Former Scottish lock Jim Hamilton has urged Scotland to seize the opportunity presented by this year’s Six Nations and compete with the favourites for the trophy.
In an exclusive interview with BOYLE Sports ahead of the Six Nations openers this week, Hamilton identified areas of concern and called on the side not to focus solely on their opening home match of the tournament against England on February 14th.
Scotland's Six Nations Chances
Hamilton on Scotland’s Six Nations Chances — And the Doubts That Persist
Assessing Scotland’s potential, Hamilton was quick to praise the quality within the squad while acknowledging the uncertainty that still surrounds their championship credentials.
“We are a fantastic team, we’re a great team to watch and we have got world class players.” Hamilton told BOYLE Sports.
While Scotland’s attacking style continues to earn plaudits, Hamilton believes there are unanswered questions when it comes to their ability to sustain a title challenge across the full campaign.
“We play a lovely brand of rugby and a lot of people will say, ‘I love watching Scotland.’ But I'm purposely not saying whether or not we can win the tournament because I'm genuinely unsure. Can we beat England? Yes, we can. Do we have the players to do that? Yes, we do. But do we have the strength in depth? I'm unsure.
Scotland are 12/1 in the outright betting for the 2026 Six Nations, putting them behind France (4/6), England (5/2), and Ireland (7/1).
Scotland's Vulnerability
Hamilton Flags Depth as the Key Issue for Scotland
Reflecting on recent performances, Hamilton pointed to Scotland’s competitiveness against top-tier opposition while questioning whether they can consistently back it up.
“I look back at the Autumn game, we competed with New Zealand and I know New Zealand aren't the team of old. But we always do well against England. Physically, we can live up to that challenge.
Who Will Win The 2026 Six Nations?
Focusing specifically on the Calcutta Cup fixture, Hamilton highlighted the historical significance of the rivalry and the unique challenge it presents for both sides.
“The England game specifically has stood the test of time - it’s still the game for Scotland. We’ve seen with Scotland before, they can raise their game for these moments and then struggle to back it up.
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Offering an opposing viewpoint from within the England camp, Hamilton revealed insights from a recent conversation that underline how highly Scotland are regarded by their rivals.
“On the flip side, I spoke to Ollie Chessum and he said the game he was looking forward to the most was Scotland, not Ireland or France. So that history still runs through both teams.
The Missing Step?
Why Winning the Six Nations Is Still the Missing Step For Scotland
Turning to the broader championship picture, Hamilton outlined why squad depth remains his biggest concern for Scotland.
“Where England are different now is they've flipped it with the players that they've got on the bench. Scotland? We don't have the embarrassment of riches that an England team do, that a French team do, that an Ireland team might have as we start to see some young lads come through, and that has been the Achilles’ heel. That's the thing that worries me.
Despite believing Scotland can compete for long spells, Hamilton admitted he needs to see evidence of a complete performance before backing them to lift the trophy.
“Can we compete for 60 minutes? Yes. But until I see otherwise that we can close out a game, I’m reluctant to say we can win it. And I say that as a Scotland fan.
Looking back on recent campaigns, Hamilton suggested last year may have represented a missed opportunity.
“I thought last year was our year for the Six Nations and this time we’ve got France and England at home. But it’s not always about playing the best rugby, you need luck on your side and there's moments in these tournaments to go and win it where you didn't play that well. I'm yet to see that from Scotland.
Changing Perceptions
Scotland Must Turn Promise Into Proof
Concluding his assessment, Hamilton argued that perceptions of Scotland will only change once they deliver silverware.
“It's a very cliché thing to say, but we need to win for people to take us seriously outside of Scotland. Our front five is thin in terms of physical output, we just haven't got the size of human beings to constantly compete with the South Africas, the All Blacks, Ireland or France.
“We're in and around that second tier of top teams, and in order to step up, we need to win the Six Nations. This is Scotland's chance.”
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